Job 1  Christian Standard Bible Anglicised

Job and His Family

1 There was a man in the country of Uz^(A) named Job.^(B) He was a man of complete integrity,^(C) who feared God and turned away from evil.^{(D) 2} He had seven sons and three daughters.^{(E) 3} His estate included seven thousand sheep and goats, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys,^(F) and a very large number of servants. Job was the greatest man among all the people of the east.^(G)

⁴ His sons used to take turns having banquets at their homes. They would send an invitation to their three sisters to eat and drink with them. ⁵ Whenever a round of banqueting was over, Job would send for his children and purify them, rising early in the morning to offer burnt offerings for^[a] all of them. For Job thought, ‘Perhaps my children have sinned, having cursed God in their hearts.’^(H) This was Job’s regular practice.

Satan’s First Test of Job

⁶ One day the sons of God^(I) came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan^[b] also came with them. ⁷ The Lord asked Satan, ‘Where have you come from? ’

‘From roaming through the earth,’^(J) Satan answered him, ‘and walking around on it.’

⁸ Then the Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered my servant Job? No one else on earth is like him, a man of perfect integrity,^(K) who fears God and turns away from evil.’^(L)

⁹ Satan answered the Lord, ‘Does Job fear God for nothing? ¹⁰ Haven’t you placed a hedge round^(M) him, his household, and everything he owns? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. ¹¹ But stretch out your hand and strike^(N) everything he owns, and he will surely curse you to your face.’

¹² ‘Very well,’ the Lord told Satan, ‘everything he owns is in your power. However, do not lay a hand on Job himself.’ So Satan left the Lord’s presence.

¹³ One day when Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house, ¹⁴ a messenger came to Job and reported, ‘While the oxen were ploughing and the donkeys grazing nearby, ¹⁵ the Sabeans^(O) swooped down and took them away. They struck down the servants with the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you! ’

¹⁶ He was still speaking when another messenger came and reported, ‘God’s fire fell from heaven.^(P) It burned the sheep and the servants and devoured them, and I alone have escaped to tell you! ’

¹⁷ That messenger was still speaking when yet another came and reported, ‘The Chaldeans formed three bands, made a raid on the camels, and took them away. They struck down the servants with the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you! ’

¹⁸ He was still speaking when another messenger came and reported, ‘Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house. ¹⁹ Suddenly a powerful wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on the young people so that they died, and I alone have escaped to tell you! ’

²⁰ Then Job stood up, tore^(Q) his robe, and shaved^(R) his head. He fell to the ground and worshipped, ²¹ saying:

²² Throughout all this Job did not sin or blame God for anything.^[d](V)